Sir Albert Bore, Leader, Birmingham City Council, speaking yesterday on 'Designing HS2 Curzon for Birmingham' at the launch of the Birmingham Made Me Jobs Fair, 6-9 May, Millennium Point, emphasized HS2's role in driving, "the 'wave of regeneration' coming through Birmingham."
HS2 was not just a high speed railway, he said, "it is about opening up the economy of the country, which is why I am a firm believer in accelerating development because of the need for the economy to be better balanced."
"Only 1 out of 8 core cities in the 海角视频 have GDP greater than the English average and that is Bristol. If you look at France and Germany their core cities deliver much more to the country's GDP. If we can kickstart growth in our core cities in England then we will see greater growth in 海角视频 GDP."
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Sir Albert highlighted the views of Lord Deighton, expressed in his report on maximizing the economic growth and job opportunities from HS2, pointing out that railway stations could be used as a catalyst for growth.
"This is why we pulled together our Masterplan on HS2 Curzon so promptly. In summer we will launch the next bit of this jigsaw puzzle. We will set up a Shadow Regeneration Company to take forward the regeneration of Digbeth. The same will be done for the airport and NEC - although we have a few issues to take forward before that can get going."
Sir Albert's priority in building on the economic momentum created by HS2 was primarily focussed on the need to stimulate sustainable job creation. "With 37% of Birmingham's population aged 25 years or under, unless there's a focus on employment prospects the future looks bleak. The future of this city rests with young people and the diversity and opportunity that this talent pool represents."
He emphasised the need to sustain growth in professional services and in other growth sectors including Advanced Manufacturing, Creative Industries and Life sciences. Aston would house the Birmingham Advanced Manufacturing Hub. "We've assembled land and that's ready to go so we can already locate companies there."
The new Life sciences campus was being put together between University Hospital Birmingham and the University of Birmingham campus. "A few years ago we thought this would be a low employment sector but now we think it may represent fast employment growth," he said.
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The Creative Industries and Digital sectors had their home in Eastside and Digbeth. "Although we launched Eastside as home to the largest physical regeneration project in Birmingham in the 1990s, on a 'bit of a wing and a prayer' - since then there's been great growth," he added.
"HS2 will give rise to added momentum as the next major catalyst for economic growth in the City. Unemployment in this city sits stubbornly high above the national rate, with the unemployment rate for young people above the city rate. We have to give them that opportunity to drive forward growth to ensure our future," he concluded.
Andrew Round, Assistant Director, Planning and Development , Birmingham City Council, spoke about the growing dialogue between parties in London and Birmingham as the HS2 Hybrid Bill progressed through Parliament. Whilst the initial presentation of the HS2 station in Birmingham had been largely functional in focus, the City Council team had developed their own representation of the station to generate some 'wow' impact and move towards use the HS2 station in Birmingham to create some 'jaw dropping moments of experience'.
A Select Committee had been set-up to consider petitions against the Bill which could still result in amendments to it. Birmingham would be 'first up' in the Committee hearing poistioning it ahead of other cities. Once the Committee had agreed on issues following petitioning, 'the die would be cast'.
Birmingham was still considering its position, but was 'very likely to petition', with the deadline in just over a week's time.
"Birmingham's city core is small for a city the size of Birmingham," he said. For this reason they had identified five places for growth to extend the city core. "The role of the train stations through New Street and Eastside were having a role in changing the city's economy for the better," he added.
The five places identified included - Typhoo Wharf, Beorma Quarter, Fazeley, Banbury Wharf, Duddeston Viaduct Skypark - with HS2 Curzon station delivering high quality direct connections into Digbeth to unlock these areas of huge potential for the city as a whole.
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Development principles had been established including a focus on walking, cycling and public transport; developing the distinctive character of the areas and open spaces, encouraging creative, media, digital and social enterprises, mixed use neighbourhoods with a 24/7 ethos and a focus on growing cultural, arts and music activities.
Professor Kathryn Moore, Landscape Architecture, Birmingham City University, stressed the importance of landscape as a means of shaping the quality of our experience of a city as a place. "Everyday experience of landscape, is, however, barely recognised in the planning process," she stated. "I have been working with UNESCO and IPOGEA to give a voice to the everyday experience of people in the development of landscape."
Professor Moore emphasised that our mutually articulated vision was critical in achieving the transformation of Birmingham that these ambitious plans outlined. She highlighted the importance of collaboration between partners, governance, and taking a holistic approach.
"In designing HS2 how can we integrate our approach?" she asked. "We need to develop through HS2 Curzon an international, national and local infrastructure hub - Rotterdam has just done this and won international recognition. We need to use the station in a positive, progressive way to ensure it contributes significantly to the quality of life. Simple cosmetics won't do."
"With such an economic prize in sight the City and region needs to pull together and collaborate with unprecedented integrity. Andrew Round stated that KPMG research had put the value at a £4bn increase in output, 50,000 jobs, and an additional £680 per worker with the Masterplan enabling the development of an additional 2000 homes in the city centre and a further £3bn GVA.
In closing Sir Albert Bore emphasised, "We have all got to be saying the same thing. Part of our success over the past few months has been that we have been getting a common agenda." Important steps included high level engagement with government through dialogue with Minister for Cities, Greg Clarke and Secretary of State, Patrick McLoughlin, who had said on launching the HS2 Hybrid Bill, "HS2 is the most ambitious and important infrastructure project in the 海角视频 since we built the M25 30 years ago, and in 30 more it will be just as integral a part of the nation's prosperity."
* Beverley Nielsen,